CDMA receiver architecture for lower bypass switch point

1. A method of reducing power requirement of a front end device in a receiver, comprising the steps of: measuring a received signal strength (RSS) of a signal received at an antenna; comparing the received signal strength to a predetermined threshold; and bypassing a filter and an amplifier in the front end if the received signal strength is greater than said predetermined threshold; wherein said front end comprises: a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) having an LNA input coupled to a signal source and an LNA output, a filter having an input coupled to the LNA output and a filter output, an amplifier having an amplifier input coupled to the filter output and an amplifier output, and a bypass circuit comprising a bypass switch coupled between the input of the filter and the amplifier output; wherein said step of bypassing comprises closing the bypass switch; wherein said predetermined threshold point comprises a minimum recognizable signal strength plus an amount of power representing error in RSS measurement and signal strength losses less an amount of amplification of the LNA.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined threshold is −90.5 dBm.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein electronics coupled to an output of said front end require a minimum signal strength in order to process the signal received at the antenna, and wherein said predetermined threshold comprises said minimum signal strength less a strength of amplification by a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) of said front end.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: powering down said amplifier if the amplifier is powered up and the received signal strength is greater than said threshold.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said minimum recognizable signal strength is a weakest signal capable of being processed by electronics couple to said mixer output.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said minimum recognizable signal strength is −106 dBm.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein: said method is embodied in a set of computer instructions stored on a computer readable media; said computer instructions, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of said method.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said set of computer instruction are compiled computer instructions stored as an executable program on said computer readable media.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said method is embodied in a set of computer readable instructions stored in an electronic signal.

10. A front end architecture, comprising: a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) having an LNA input and an LNA output, said LNA input coupled to a signal source; wherein the signal source corresponds to a signal received at an antenna; a filter having an input coupled to the LNA output and a filter output; an radio frequency (RF) amplifier having an RF amplifier input coupled to the filter output and an RF amplifier output; a first bypass circuit coupled between the input of the filter and the RF amplifier output and configured to bypass the filter and RF amplifier; a control device configured to activate and deactivate the first bypass circuit; and a second bypass circuit coupled between the LNA input and the LNA output; wherein said control circuit is further configured to activate and deactivate the second bypass circuit; wherein the second bypass circuit is activated if the received signal strength (RSS) of a received signal is greater than a first threshold, and the first bypass circuit is activated if the received signal strength (RSS) exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold.

11. The front end according to claim 10 , wherein the first bypass circuit comprises a switch coupled between the input of the filter and the radio frequency (RF) amplifier output.

12. The front end according to claim 11 , wherein said switch is a Single Pole Single Throw.

13. The front end according to claim 11 , wherein said switch is a transistor.

14. The front end according to claim 10 , further comprising: a signal detector coupled to said signal source and configured to determine a received signal strength (RSS) of a signal from said signal source; wherein said control device is further configured to activate and deactivate the first bypass circuit according to the RSS of the signal from said signal source.

15. The front end architecture according to claim 10 , wherein the first bypass circuit is activated if a recieved signal strength (RSS) of a received signal is greater than a first threshold, and the second bypass circuit is activated if the RSSI exceeds a second threshold.

16. The front end device according to claim 15 , wherein the second threshold is higher than the first threshold.

17. A front end device, comprising: means for measuring a received signal strength (RSS) of a signal received at an antenna; means for comparing the received signal strength to a first predetermined threshold; means for bypassing a filter and an amplifier in the front end if the received signal strength is greater than said first predetermined threshold; and means for bypassing a low noise amplifier if the received signal strength exceeds a second predetermined threshold that is higher than the first predetermined threshold.

18. The front end device according to claim 17 , wherein said means for comparing comprises: a computing means coupled to said means for measuring and said means for bypassing.

19. The front end according to claim 17 , further comprising: a means for low noise amplification (LNA) coupled to a signal source; a filter means coupled to an output of the LNA; and an amplifier means coupled to an output of the filter means; wherein said means for bypassing is coupled to an input of the filter means and an output of the amplifier means.